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ANANDA YOGIJI

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singer-songwriter

yogi

The ancients—from the Sufis to the Hindus—knew the power of sound and saw the worlds as manifestations of divine frequency. “In the beginning was the Word” says the book of Genesis in The Bible. Whether one reads religious scripture, the principles of physics, or a sheet of music, vibration is the foundation of life, and it is this very essence that my next guest taps into whenever he sits down to write a song or to perform. It is an honor and a joy to present internationally-loved musician Ananda Yogiji—singer, songwriter, yogi, and cacao (chocolate) shaman.

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Ananda’s sound palette is a prismatic integration of ancient mantras, hypnotic harmonies, and deep spiritual presence. It is beautifully evident for the listener that each note is an offering to Deity. Whether he is singing a love song to the Creator in Bow to You or invoking the fiercely compassionate Goddess in Kali Ma, sound waves penetrate the heart and clear space for light to slip through, striking a resonance that also dissolves barriers between spiritual paths.

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With this dark mane, flowing white and power jewelry, at first glance Ananda can easily be mistaken for one of the mystical beings celebrated in his music, but he is very much a human being on a shining road of inner knowing, one who stands at the gateway between consciousness and Consciousness. Like Krishna, his gifts of music and spirit invite all of us to join him in the dance of the eternal heart.

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Ananda asked me how I came upon his music—and it was by chance that his work came up in a general search. It was during a difficult time of transition, and his beautiful music helped me to keep an open heart when everything in me fought to contract. For this I am deeply grateful—and for the many hours his music has accompanied me during the birth of new paintings in the studio.

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Here he is in his own words—about his process, his work, and his journey followed by links to his site and video highlights. After collaborating with fellow musician Jaya Lakshmi, Ananda is currently conjuring a magical debut solo album called Flower of Life, but in these times, every musician needs support to birth a new baby, so be sure to check out his fundraising efforts and download some of his work to help him make this happen. If you are discovering Ananda’s music for the first time, wishing you a joyous experience!

Q: When did your musical path merge with your spiritual path and what inspired this shift?

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A: For me it was when I started doing Kundalini Yoga. The whole path brought be to my initial awakening. I had been a musician already for some years but then the mantras and the devotional element really came in full force. There was no turning back...

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Q: What was your first experience feeling the spiritual power in sound and how did it impact you?

 

A: I don't know if I could specifically pick one, but when I was first immersed in Kundalini Yoga and we would close the class with long Sat Nams, I think that was when I really started to attune to the frequency of the power of sound and its impact. I also took a term of gospel choir while at the University of Oregon. It was so moving to be singing so strongly and intricately and devotionally. Really made a big shift for me. Then, as time went on, I found myself having a huge pull towards chanting mantras and feeling their effects on my consciousness. It was and continues to be truly profound.


Q: As a spiritual student, what have you learned most through creating music? As a spiritual teacher, what do you teach through your music?

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A: As a student, I continue to learn that often simpler is easier for opening to take place. For example, too many musicians or too many chord changes, etc., I—and many people—can get caught up in their heads. That is not where we want to be, so simplicity often brings about more bliss. As a teacher, I teach to step out of the way, open your heart and voice, and let God do the rest. With that said, there is a level of refinement that is cultivated regarding musicianship, artistry, arrangement, and presentation. This all takes a lot of time, dedication, devotion, and trust that Spirit will provide.

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Q: As a musician who is dedicated to the sacred, do you see each performance as an offering to Deity? Do you have any specific rituals or set any intentions before a performance?

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A: Not a whole concert but for sure the song dedicated to the deity. In all honesty, my ritual is to get out of the way and just let Spirit move through me.

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Q: As a listener, I often feel that your stage is an altar itself. Do you begin with this mindset or does a higher frequency enter the space as you play?

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A: Totally, the stage is an altar, but it's not always presented as such. Really, the most important aspect is where I am at as well as where the audience is at. If we come with the intention to open and receive, there is no telling what can come through and how profound the musical journey will be. Of course, for many years Jaya Lakshmi and I would travel around with a tub full of altar items and set up an altar in front of us. It was all an offering.

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Q: What inspires you to choose certain mantras to develop into sacred songs? Have you had a profound personal experience with a particular mantra, and if so, please feel free to share what that was like.

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A: I tend to choose mantras that resonate with my soul at particular times. I have found mantras in manuals, books, from other singers, etc. What I do find helpful is to chant a mantra for some time, say 30 minutes to an hour and ideally, for many days. A classic sadhana is 40 days. Typically, I feel into the mantra and then add music, but sometimes it's the other way around. Ultimately, the mantras choose me, not the other way around.

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In Tantra, they teach that mantras are conscious beings, like angels, that come into our lives and bless us with their sacred vibrations. And I totally believe that. The number of mantras that I have had profound experiences with is pretty much endless.

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One profound experience I had was with the Maha Mantra, the Hare Krishna mantra. Forgive me if this is too straight forward but I was about to journey on an LSD trip and set the intention to commune with Krishna. The other intention was to experience the effects of mantra while on this profound medicine. By far, this experience changed my life. When I chanted Om, it was like a super nova in my kaleidoscope vision. I chanted Ananda and white stars exploded out of everywhere. But when I chanted the Maha Mantra, there were literally rainbows, little glowing Oms, a purple kaleidoscope and even humpback whales swimming in and out of my field. Needless to say, I continued chanting that mantra for a long time.

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And what also came to me, which is what is said in the Vedas as well, is that the mantra and the deity are one and the same. The vibration of the mantra and the physical manifestation of the forms are of the same essence. My experience of the Maha Mantra was the experience of Krishna, although at this time I was not revealed a human form. So, when we chant, it is so important that we hold the utmost reverence for these mantras because of the incredible sacredness in which they are.


I also want to note that I have never taken psychedelic medicine more than twice in once year and I always tune in to my intuition for when this medicine gets a green light from God. I also am very particular with who I am with and in a very sacred location. All these are recipes for a highly successful devotional communion and experience of Yoga.

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Q: What instruments are you loyal to, and for you, how is each one a portal to the divine?

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A: My voice, guitar, bansuri flute, and harmonium. Each one has its unique way, but I would say the instruments for me are more like the foundation, and my voice is what brings me home. The divine really is every moment that we are conscious of it, so naturally, it's up to me and my consciousness when I use these tools to enhance my divine union. And what a blessing it is.

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Q: What are your daily rituals as an artist and a conscious being? What habits, activities, etc. nourish your deepest self?

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A: I regularly dedicate 2-3 hours a day to my yoga practice. Typically, that is very Kundalini Yoga focused, but there are always variations and other modalities that come in. Currently I am on a Prem Baba Sat Sangh kick. So, I put on one of his Sat Sanghs (spiritual discourse) and then do some asanas, kriyas, breathwork, etc. I like to do about an hour of physical practice, 30 minutes of meditation, and another 30 minutes of mantra/singing. My mantra practice varies from monotone to musical. I also have been on a Hanuman Chalisa kick since July. Profound.

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For many years I really focused on the Kundalini Mantras that Yogi Bhajan taught us. Hard to say which one I have practiced most, but my most recent 40-day sadhana was a meditation to release fear of the future where I held a mudra at my heart and just received the mantra Dhan Dhan Ram Das Guru. I literally felt my heart healing and opening. So incredibly beautiful. Since then, I have had much less fear and insecurity about the future. All these things help us with wherever we are at. Most important thing is to commit. Yogi Bhajan told us to commit 10% of your day to God, to sadhana, to your illumination. So, that's about 2 and half hours. In addition to that, a good night’s rest is essential along with delicious organic food, good company, and potent spots on this planet Earth.

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Q: Have you ever experienced a dark night of the soul and if so, what role did music play in working through it? Do you have any advice for anyone who is experiencing the abyss along their path of ascension?

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A: I feel like what I went through this last year was a recognition of my deep unconscious patterning that I wasn't coming to terms with. It brought me to a whole new level of acknowledging my humanness and how much growth I still had (to experience) in being fully in love/God consciousness. And thank God for that because it took my sadhana to a whole other level of depth and awareness. It had me dive much deeper into psychology and the mental and spiritual dimensions of wounding. In gaining more understanding, I have found my level of compassion exponentially growing. And that is a beautiful thing.
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Website

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YouTube Highlights w/ Jaya Lakshmi

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Album Support

 

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